Filter for moisture and oil vapor

ABSTRACT

A filter system to absorb and separate water and oil vapors from gases comprising a cylindrical container connectable in a supply line for said gases and containing at least one filter unit comprising a seamless cylindrical sleeve formed from textile material having a predetermined uniform porosity, the diameter of said sleeve being slightly greater than the inner diameter of said container so that when the filter unit is supported between porous supporting means within said sleeve the periphery of the sleeve will smoothly and tightly engage the inner surface of the container and thereby prevent channeling and bypassing of gases between the sleeve and the inner surface of the container during use.

United States Patent Grote 51 July 25,1972

[541 FILTER FOR MOISTURE AND OIL VAPOR [72] lnventor: George A. Grote,Glen Rock, Pa.

221 Filed: May 14,1970

21 Appl.No.: 37,125

1,380,907 6/1921 Hoover.... 55/382 X 2,630,190 3/1953 Cordray ..55/38l3,186,148 6/1965 Merrill et al. ..55/387 2,214,925 9/1940 Guthrie..55/387 2,852,095 9/1958 De Coriolis et a1. ..55/513 X 1,791,229 2/1931Stampe ....55/5l5 X 2,557,279 6/1951 Greenberg ..55/515 3,388,536 6/1968Nash ....55/513 X 1,892,982 1/1933 Gartha..... ....55/5l2 X 2,922,488l/l960 Gruner .....55/316 2,798,718 7/1957 Gross ....55/485 X 2,400,7195/1946 Stackhouse.. ....55/519 X 1,560,790 10/1925 Jordahl ..55/515 XPrimary Examiner-Frank W. Lutter Assistant Examiner-Vincent GiffordAttorneyC. Hercus Just [57] ABSTRACT A filter system to absorb andseparate water and oil vapors from gases comprising a cylindricalcontainer connectable in a supply line for said gases and containing atleast one filter unit comprising a seamless cylindrical sleeve formedfrom textile material having a predetermined uniform porosity, thediameter of said sleeve being slightly greater than the inner diameterof said container so that when the filter unit is supported betweenporous supporting means within said sleeve the periphery of the sleevewill smoothly and tightly engage the inner surface of the container andthereby prevent channeling and bypassing of gases between the sleeve andthe inner surface of the container during use.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented July 25, 1972 FIG.

2 54 FIG. 4 44 INVENTOR GEORGE A. GROTE AT ORNEY FILTER FOR MOISTURE ANDOIL VAPOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Filter systems includingsupporting sleeves and the like which contain filter units formed fromtextile material enclosing filter material have been known heretoforeand are presently in use. Said units, however, have included sidemembers formed from pieces of textile material of predetermined size andopposite parallel edges thereof are stitched to form a seam whichextends inwardly and thereby form a sleeve configuration comprising thesides of the unit. Appropriate porous end members are secured to theportion which forms the sides of the unit. Such arrangement, however,particularly along the seam referred to, inherently forms a channel oflimited cross-section but nevertheless capable of permitting channelingor bypassing of unfiltered gases past the filter unit so that less than100 percent filtering of gases can occur.

Particularly in situations where it is absolutely essential to filterfrom certain gases all entrained water and oil vapor, for example, suchchanneling or bypassing of unfiltered gases through said channel formedby said seam cannot be tolerated.

Several typical examples of filters presently available are found inprior US. Pat. No. 2,922,488, in the name of Gruner, dated Jan. 26,1960, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,148, in the name of Merrill et al., datedJune I, 1965. The first of these patents discloses a combination of aninner screen container covered by multi-layers of cheesecloth within ametal housing, while the second patent illustrates a filter pack whichis illustrated as being formed from porous material comprising anenclosure for filtering material including diatomaceous or fullersearth. Neither of these patents disclose specific structure of thecontainers for the cartridges or packs which are contained within asleeve-like housing. In the absence of such specific description andparticularly since, to the best of applicants knowledge, only seam-typetextile containers have been used to form filter packs and the like infilter systems of the type represented by said patents, it is assumedthat the packs shown in these patents are of the seamed type which wouldpermit channeling and bypassing of limited quantities of gas through thechannels formed by said seams inherently in the region where they engagethe inner walls of the housings or casings for the filter packs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the principal object of the presentinvention to provide in a preferably cylindrical container at least onefilter unit formed from a seamless cylindrical sleeve of textilematerial having a predetermined uniform porosity throughout, saidseamless sleeve having a diameter only very slightly greater than theinner diameter of the cylindrical container within which it is mounted,the opposite ends of said filter unit being engaged by supporting meanswhich force the seamless sleeve into smooth, circumferentiallycontinuous contact with the inner walls of the container so that thereis no possibility of any leakage, channeling or bypassing of gasesbetween said seamless cylindrical sleeve of the unit which forms theside walls thereof and the inner surface of the supporting container.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a filter unit asreferred above, which contains preferably pulverulent type absorbingmaterial such as diatomaceous earth, fullers earth, and the like, saidfiltering material being contained within the filter unit by means of adisc-like end member formed from material similar to that from whichsaid sleeve is formed, said disc-like end member being stitched at itsperiphery to one end of said sleeve, the raw ends of said connectedmembers extending inwardly in the preferred construction and theopposite end of said unit either comprising another disc which issimilar to said first-mentioned disc and connected to the opposite endof said sleeve by similar means or said opposite end of said sleeve maybe of sufficient length that a portion of it may be contracted towardthe axis of the sleeve and tightly tied to form a suitable enclosure forthe en tire mass of pulverulent material within the unit.

A further object of the invention is to form said sleeve of said unitfrom synthetic resin filamints, such as Nylon, or other appropriatefilaments which preferably are substantially completely inert toreaction with contaminants normally found in air which requiresfiltering by being passed through a filter, especially to remove waterand oil vapors therefrom.

A still further object of the invention ancillary to the foregoingobject is to form such textile fabric from thermoplastic synthetic resinfilaments, whereby suitable fusing may be used in localities on the unitsuch as the contracted end which is tightly tied to form a completeclosure for said end of the unit.

Details of the foregoing objects and the invention, as well as otherobjects thereof, are set forth in the following specification andillustrated in the accompanying drawing comprising a part thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an exemplaryfilter system embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of filter unit of thetype included in the filter system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the filter unit shown in FIG. 2, part ofthe upper portion thereof being broken away to show certain detailsthereof.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a further embodiment of filter unit of thetype used in the filter system of FIG. 1, part of one corner of saidview being broken away to illustrate certain details of constructiontherein.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view of one comer of filter unit shownin FIG. 4 to illustrate further details of said construction.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the supporting structure forthe filter means of the filter system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the filter elements andenclosing means therefor of the type employed in the filter system ofFIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The filter system 10illustrated in exemplary manner in FIG. 1 is the type which is used toinsure and guarantee the absorption and resulting separation of percentof water and oil vapor from gases which are passed therethrough atdesired speeds. Gases and especially air of the type which are suitableto be filtered by the system comprising the present invention are thosewhich are utilized in food processing, for example. Air provides anideal method for agitating materials under process or for moving driedbulk materials, such as flour, sugar, cereals, etc. Highly pure air isrequired to blend whiskey through agitation and under suchcircumstances, the slightest odor or taste with which said air might becontaminated cannot be tolerated.

Many chemical processes require absolutely pure air or at least airwhich is free from water and/or oil vapors. Completely dry and pure air,for example, is used to move and/or mix paint pigments, talc, and manyother types of bulk materials where the presence of water vapor wouldcause clogging or a chemical reaction as in regard to moving Portlandcement. In certain types of delicate instruments such as fluidicamplifiers and control circuits, air is used which must be absolutelyfree from contaminating materials such as water and oil vapors. Asubstantial number of other uses exists which require, in particular,air or similar gases which are absolutely free from moisture or oilvapors and it is in regard to filtering air to provide the desired kindin such foregoing operations that the present invention finds itsprincipal use.

The filter system illustrated in the drawing and particularly in FIG. 1comprises a preferably transparent cylindrical sleeve 12 which is bestshown in FIG. 7. Said sleeve may be made from appropriate syntheticresin or glass and the wall thickness of such sleeve is selected torender the same capable of withstanding within safe limits the pressureintended to be exerted upon the gases being filtered by the system. Thesystem also is provided with a pair of end or cap members 14 and I6which are similarly apertured to receive the opposite ends of tie bars18, the opposite ends of which are threaded to receive connecting nut atone end and, preferably, wing nuts 22 at the opposite ends. The capmembers 14 and 16 also preferably are provided with annular recesses 24which comprise seats for the opposite ends of the sleeve 12.

Referring particularly to FIG. 7 but also to FIG. 1, it will be seenthat in the lower portion of the sleeve 12, a lower supporting member 26is mounted which preferably is cylindrical and the upper end thereof iscovered with a supporting disc 28 of metal gauze of appropriate porosityto readily pass gas therethrough without obstruction. The outer diameterof the supporting member 26 preferably closely fits within the innerdiameter of the sleeve 12. Similarly, an upper supporting member 30 isprovided which also closely fits within the upper end of sleeve 12 andthe same also has a supporting disc 32 of metal gauze. The metal gauzediscs 28 and 32 are for purposes tobe described. Appropriatecompressible sealing gaskets 34 and 36 respectively are provided at thelower and upper ends of the assembly shown particularly in FIG. 7, saidgaskets respectively abutting the outermost ends of the supportingmembers 26 and 30. Said gaskets also are seated within the annularrecesses 24 respectively provided in the upper and lower cap members 14and I6. Said cap members also preferably are centrally threadedrespectively to receive threaded plugs 38 which may be removed for theinstalling of inlet and discharge conduits or pipes when the filtersystem is to be installed within conduit means by which air or othergases to be filtered respectively are delivered to one end of the filtersystem and the filtered product is removed from the other end.

The most essential part of the filter system 10 comprises at least oneand preferably a plurality of filter units 40 which are of specializedconstruction and several different embodiments are illustrated.Referring to FIG. 2, the filter unit 40 shown therein is formed from aseamless tube of textile fabric which preferably is manufactured fromsuitable synthetic resin which is substantially nonreactive with a widerange of contaminating materials normally found in air and gases of thetype with which the filter system 10 is highly adaptable for use.Without restriction thereto, Nylon has been found to be very suitablefor the formation of such textile material. The porosity of the materialalso is critical, at least with respect to the type of pulverulentmaterial to be contained within the filter units 40. Various types ofsuch pulverulent material may be used and, also without restrictionthereto, diatomaceous earth and fullers earth are suitable for such use.

Concerning the details of the filter units 40, the side walls 42 thereofare formed from said aforementioned seamless tubing, the diameter ofwhich is preferably very slightly larger than the inner diameter of thesleeve 12, whereby when the units 40 are mounted therein and arereasonably compressed for firm support between the metal gauze members28 and 32 of the lower and upper supporting members 26 and 30, saidseamless side walls 42 will firmly and smoothly abut the inner surfacesof the sleeve 12 throughout substantially the entire circumferentialarea of the side walls 42. By such arrangement, no leakage, channelingor bypassing of air or other gases will occur between the side walls 42of the filter units and the inner surface of the sleeve 12.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in particular in FIG. 2, bottom44 preferably comprises a disc of textile material which is similar tothat from which the seamless side wall tube 42 is formed. The perimeterof the disc is affixed by appropriate stitching to one end of the sidewall tube 42. After the formation of such unit, it is filled with thedesired pulverulent material 46 and, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, theupper end of the seamless sleeve which forms the side walls 42 iscontracted and tightly tied to form the closure 48.

As indicated above, the synthetic resin from which the textile materialof the side walls and bottom of the unit 40 are formed is thermoplastic,especially to insure that the closure 48 is absolutely tight so as toprevent any escape of the pulverent filtering material 46 therethrough,after the tying of the closure 48, a heated tool may be applied againstthe puckered and contracted closure, such as centrally thereof, to fusesaid closure in a manner to eliminate any minute hole or passage whichotherwise might exist in the closure as the result of only tying thesame tightly.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, rather thanform the top of the unit 40 by contracting the upper end of the sidewall tube 42, another disc 50 which also is formed preferably from thesame type of material as the side wall tube 42, is secured at itsperiphery by appropriate stitching to the upper end of the sleeve 42.

As best shown in the lower left comer of FIG. 4 and also in enlargedmanner in FIG. 5, the lower end of sleeve 12 shown therein is turnedinwardly. The periphery of the bottom disc 44 also is turned inwardlyand the same is stitched together by the exemplary stitching representedby the cross line 52 in said figures. This is done in customary mannerby stitching the two edges together and then turning the resultingproduct inside out. In addition, the stitching of the top disc 50 in theupper end of the side wall tube 42 may be similarly accomplished exceptfor a short distance which, after filling of the filter unit enclosurethus formed is finally closed by suitable overcast stitching or thelike.

A further feature of the present invention comprises the provision of alayer of highly absorbent material such as absorbent cotton 54 which isof appropriate thickness and is maintained in desired formation byenclosing the upper surface thereof with another disc of porous materialsuch as gauze 56. Said gauze is in the form of a disc and the peripherythereof also is stitched to the adjacent edges of bottom disc 44 and thelower end of side wall tube 42, whereby the row of stitching 52 willsecure all three of said elements together.

In the foregoing description, the filter system 10 as well as the filterunits 40 have been referred to as having upper and lower ends and thelike but it is to be understood that these terms are not restrictive andpertain only to the specific illustration in the drawing. While undermost conditions of use, the filter system 10 will be mounted vertically,it is to be understood that under some specialized circumstances, it maybe desirable to mount the same so as to extend in other directions thanvertical. Thus, the terms upper and lower, top and bottom, etc., areused only in relation to the illustrations on the drawing for purposesof convenience.

With respect to the filter units 40 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 inwhich the layer of highly absorbing material 54 is illustrated at oneend, said end is preferred to be the inlet end of the filter unit andthus said ends of the units, when mounted within the sleeve 12, aredisposed toward the inlet end of the filter system 10. Such inlet endnormally is in the bottom cap member 16 and the threaded opening thereinpreferably also contains a small nipple 58 which is of suitable heightto serve as a standpipe. The height of said nipple, however, issubstantially less then the height of the lower supporting member 26 andthe purpose of the same is to prevent any accumulation of drippings ordrainage from the filter units 40 from running into the inlet conduitconnected to the bottom cap member 16, for example.

In view of the disposition of the filter units 40 within the sleeve 12in such manner that the highly absorbent layer 54 is nearest the inletend of the filter system, such absorbent layer will rapidly absorb watervapor in particular and thus quickly initiate dehydration of theincoming stream of gas which is to be filtered. The pulverulent material46 also is highly capable of absorbing not only water vapor but oilvapor as well and when, for example, the lowermost filter unit 40 shownin FIG. 1, for example, becomes substantially saturated, the economy ofthe system becomes evident from the fact that the lower saturated filterunit 40 may be removed while the remainder of the stack of such unitsmay be moved downwardly and a new unit mounted at the upper end of saidstack. This can be done conveniently by requiring only removal, forexample, of the lower cap 16, followed by complete removal of all of thefilter units 40, after which the new replacement unit is first insertedinto the lower end of tube 12, followed by the partially used filterunits 40, after which the cap 16 is replaced and the attachment of thewing nuts 22 completes the assembly operation.

Care should be exercised in mounting the filter units 40 within the tube12 to insure the smooth disposition of the seamless tubular side walls42 in order that the major contribution of the present invention will beeffective, namely. the prevention of any leakage, channeling orbypassing of unfiltered gases between said seamless tubular side walls42 of the units 40 and the inner surface of the sleeve 12. The preferredformation of the sleeve 12 from transparent material also greatlyfacilitates the checking of the condition of the filter system since thedegree of saturation of the individual units readily may be seenvisually through said sleeve.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in its severalpreferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notto be limited to the precise details illustrated and described since thesame may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of theinvention as illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A filter system to absorb and separate water and oil vapors fromgases comprising in combination, a cylindrical container, means atopposite ends of said container connectable respectively within a supplyline to deliver inlet gases to one end of said container and dischargefiltered gases from the opposite end of said container; at least onefilter unit positioned within said container between the opposite endsthereof and comprising a seamless cylindrical sleeve formed from textilematerial and having a substantially uniform fine porosity throughout,pulverulent filter material enclosed within said sleeve, the oppositeends of said sleeve being closed by substantially the same kind oftextile material as that of said sleeve and the diameter of saidcylindrical sleeve being slightly larger than the interior diameter ofsaid container; a layer of absorbing cotton-like material extendingacross the inner surface of one end of said filter unit and adapted torapidly absorb water and oil vapors from gaseous material passed throughsaid one end of said filter unit, and a sheet of porous materialextending across the inner surface of said layer of absorbing materialand secured at the edges thereof to said one end of said filter unit toposition said layer of material operatively within said unit, porousmeans supported in the opposite ends of said container and positionedrespectively to engage the opposite ends of said filter unit to supportsaid filter unit within said container, and means in the opposite endsof said container engaging said porous means and exerting pressurethereon to expand said sleeve of said unit into close uninterruptedcontact around the entire circumference thereof with the inner surfaceof said cylindrical container, whereby no channeling and bypassing ofgases between the sleeve of said unit and the inner surface of saidcontainer can occur and filtering of all gases passing through saidfilter is as sured.

2. The filter system according to claim 1 in which said one end of saidfilter unit comprises a porous disc secured at the periphery thereof tothe end of said sleeve adjacent which said layer of cotton-like materialis positioned, and said sheet of porous material adjacent the innersurface of said layer of cot ton also being disc-like in shape andsecured at its periphery to the adjacent end of said sleeve by the samestitching which secures said end disc of said filter unit to saidsleeve.

3. The filter system according to claim 2 in which the op posite end ofsaid unit comprises a porous disc secured at its periphery to saidopposite end of said sleeve by stitching.

1. A filter system to absorb and separate water and oil vapors fromgases comprising in combination, a cylindrical container, means atopposite ends of said container connectable respectively within a supplyline to deliver inlet gases to one end of said container and dischargefiltered gases from the opposite end of said container; at least onefilter unit positioned within said container between the opposite endsthereof and comprising a seamless cylindrical sleeve formed from textilematerial and having a substantially uniform fine porosity throughout,pulverulent filter material enclosed within said sleeve, the oppositeends of said sleeve being closed by substantially the same kind oftextile material as that of said sleeve and the diameter of saidcylindrical sleeve being slightly larger than the interior diameter ofsaid container; a layer of absorbing cotton-like material extendingacross the inner surface of one end of said filter unit and adapted torapidly absorb water and oil vapors from gaseous material passed throughsaid one end of said filter unit, and a sheet of porous materialextending across the inner surface of said layer of absorbing materialand secured at the edges thereof to said one end of said filter unit toposition said layer of material operatively within said unit, porousmeans supported in the opposite ends of said container and positionedrespectively to engage the opposite ends of said filter unit to supportsaid filter unit within said container, and means in the opposite endsof said container engaging said porous means and exerting pressurethereon to expand said sleeve of said unit into close uninterruptedcontact around the entire circumference thereof with the inner surfaceof said cylindrical container, whereby no channeling and bypassing ofgases between the sleeve of said unit and the inner surface of saidcontainer can occur and filtering of all gases passing through saidfilter is assured.
 2. The filter system according to claim 1 in whichsaid one end of said filter unit comprises a porous disc secured at theperiphery thereof to the end of said sleeve adjacent which said layer ofcotton-like material is positioned, and said sheet of porous materialadjacent the inner surface of said layer of cotton also being disc-likein shape and secured at its periphery to the adjacent end of said sleeveby the same stitching which secures said end disc of said filter unit tosaid sleeve.
 3. The filter system according to claim 2 in which theopposite end of said unit comprises a porous disc secured at itsperiphery to said opposite end of said sleeve by stitching.